A recent Wallpaper* post (external link) made me remember a design niche so small I think few ever contemplate it: designers and artists skilled in a single color.
First, a dip into the world of Chanel Beauty. Yes, I am discussing makeup. Hold on, life gets better.
Fiona Mahon post is entitled, “A Nomadic Journey Through the Desert with Chanel Beauty: Lucia Pica’s S/S 2020 make-up collection is inspired by the Namibian sands”. Okay.
The designer built this collection primarily on mauve. Mahon quotes Pica. “In the desert, there is almost a universe of one single, dominant color – mauve – which really came to life with the particular photographic process we used” she says of the ethereal polaroid images which helped her define the collection.
Mahon then writes, “Across 15 pieces – including two eye shadow palettes, and a curation of lipsticks, blushes and nail polishes, Pica brings a soft focus, esoteric mood to S/S 2020 that evokes the quiet contemplation she experienced on her own nomadic trek.”
A few photos from the article. Here, we have a designer working mauve.
When I worked for a landscape contractor in the 1980s, our designers made up presentation plans with felt pens. A designer remarked, to the effect, “We get really good with greens. Since our plans depict so many plants, we have to get good at distinguishing one green plant from another.” Back then, these plans were really works of art, as a customer’s acceptance depended on the quality of the ink work on vellum.
I don’t know how computer aided drafting software impacts today’s landscape presentation plans. Likely, poorly, but I suspect high dollar projects are still pitched by hand drawn work. In any case, a designer in the green trade must still be battling it out with green, pouring over a selection of shades of a single color. Do you know any other trades that specialize in a single color? Let me know by commenting below.
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